Improvement in screw-drivers



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES S. MCCURDIY, OF BRIDGEPORI, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCREW-DRIVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50.021, dated September 19, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. MGCUEDY, of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Screw-Drivers; and I do hereby declare that the followin g is afnll, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part ot' this specification.

Figure l represents the blade ot' my improved screw-driver detached from the handle. Fig. 2 is a side view of the instrument complete. Fig. 3 represents the pin upon which the blade turns. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but shows the blade in a different position. Fig. 5 is a side view taken at right angles to Figs. 2 and 4.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate 'correspending parts in the several ligures.

My invention consists in a novel construction of a screw-driver, whereby it is adapted to the different-sized screws used in small machinery-such as sewing-machines-thereby obviating the necessity of having two screwdrivers for a machine. The same construction also provides for obtaining` a greater leverage of the blade.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A is a handle, of wood or other suitable material, having cut in it a longitudinal slot, a, of a width suitable for the reception of the blade B, which is made with two points of different sizes, and with a hole, e, at the middle of its length, through which it is pivoted to the handle A by means of a screw-pin, s, which is inserted also through the handle and secured by a nut, u.

rBhe nut may be screwed up to make the han dle clamp the blade tightly enough to prevent it from accidentally turning on the pin s and yet permit it to be turned when desired to make either point project outward iu line with the handle, as shown in Fig. 4, or to set the blade at right angles to the handle, as shown in Fig. 2.

It sometimes happens in practice that the screw-head is so close to some other part otl the machine, or in a corner of the same, that the handle cannot be used in a line with the blade. In this case I turn the handle at a suitable angle, as shown in Fig. 2, when the screw can be turned entirely loose by making partial revolutions of the handle; also, in starting a screw which is driven very tight the handle may be used in the last-mentioned position in order to get a superior leverage. Fig. et shows the smaller end of the blade projecting from the handle, and Fig. 5 shows an edge view of the same, the thickness ofthe blade B and the slot a in the handle A.

A blade having more than two points may be arranged in this manner, or two or more twopointed blades may be arranged in the same handle; but for most purposes two differentsized screw-drivers are considered sufficient.

I claim- As a new article of manufacture, the screwdriver, as constructed, with slotted handle and with a blade having two or more points pivoted into such handle, substantially as herein described.

JAMES S. MGCURDY.

Witnesses:

GEO. B. SHARP, S. R. LEeeE'rr. 

